Episode 11: Caught

It had all gone so wrong.

He should have never come to Suna.

Never should have fallen for her.

Shikamaru forced himself to watch dispassionately as his friends were being beaten and tortured. Kankuro was administering the bulk of the pain while Shaik helped here and there; Gaara stood at the back of the room and watched with real dispassion as Shikamaru stood at his side.

Protecting him.

Protecting the criminal instead of his friends.

Twelve hours earlier

"But I don't want to go shopping," Shikamaru muttered as he and Temari walked down the crowded streets of Suna. The pair were moving through the highly congested streets at a brisk, but unrushed pace.

"But I do," Temari reminded him as she eyed a scroll shop and headed towards it eagerly.

Women...

Shikamaru followed after Gaara's sister and found himself in a scroll shop that seemed to contain an "authentic" copy of just about every document ever written. They even had an ANBU code of conduct—a completely incorrect one though.

Officially, Shikamaru was being loaned to Temari because Gaara didn't want someone as important to his organization waltzing around Suna on their own. In reality, Temari had wanted to leave the compound and spend some quality time with Shikamaru.

She always seemed eager to spend time with him outside after they "made up" in her apartments, he had found. Perhaps it was because she wanted to regain feeling in her legs or, more likely, she just hated the stares men gave her there.

Whatever the case, Shikamaru was admittedly enjoying himself as Temari quite literally dragged him through whatever store or hole-in-the-wall market that struck her fancy. To be honest, most of the places she went in were places he wouldn't mind exploring. Scroll stores, gun shops, armor stands, boot shacks, alcohol carts and so on. There was very little in the way of girly shopping—though the lover's undergarment store had held a certain appeal to the both of them.

"This seems interesting," Temari remarked as she studied a map of the Central Nations. The scroll detailed the population size, exclusive goods, capital location, and the major cities. It was artfully done and considerably up to date in Shikamaru's opinion.

"Are you thinking about getting it?" Shikamaru questioned as he mentally reviewed the contents within the massive pack that was currently strapped to his back. They had already bought several knives, a few dozen books, a couple bottles of booze, some Coal Cigarettes, and a smattering of oils and incense.

"Sort of..." Temari admitted as she stared up at Shikamaru, who stared back down at her.

"One more to the pile, troublesome woman," Shikamaru said simply as they walked up to the owner of the rundown store. He was alarmed at first at Temari's presence—Shikamaru's bodyguard-thug appearance didn't help that at all—but his mannerism quickly changed upon learning that she merely wished to purchase a ware of his.

"Sometimes being a Sabaku is a pain," Temari muttered as they walked out of the store.

"I would think you would enjoy everyone cowering under you," Shikamaru said nonchalantly, secretly hoping she would turn into some sort of peace-loving, oppression-hating version of the woman he loved.

"Oh no, I definitely love that," Temari said, dashing Shikamaru's hopes—though not really surprising him—before they turned onto a new street full of new shops, "I just wish people wouldn't clam up the second they see me."

"You are rather breathtaking," Shikamaru couldn't help it sometimes, his smart mouth and her lovely figure just led to him making flirtatious comments. Judging by the warm look Temari was giving him, he had definitely said something right.

The only time she ever looked at him like that was when...

"I could say the same to you Shika," Temari said boldly before leaning in closer to him, "you are the only one I want cowering under me."

Her voice was pure sin.

"Here?" Shikamaru said in surprise as he gazed around at the bumbling crowd they were moving through.

"That old hotel is around here somewhere," Temari mentioned casually as she sped up her pace. Her tone implied she couldn't care less, but her searching eyes revealed a determined inner desire.

"H-hotel?"

"The one we met in."

There was a brief flash of a completely naked Temari on top of him, swearing in one or two long dead languages as she moved in an interesting way.

Shikamaru felt his pulse rise slightly at the mention of that hotel. That was where he had first stayed the night in Suna. That had only been a few months ago, but it felt like years. If Temari wanted to take him there and go screw themselves blue, then she really was serious about their relationship.

He was so screwed.

"Coming Shika?" Temari said coyly as she noticed a building that seemed familiar to the both of them.

So utterly screwed.

"Yes Mari."

Shikamaru moved to follow after the women who had stolen his heart...

Only to have a gun click at his back.

Of all the shitting luck.

"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere with Mari today agent Nara." A very cold and very familiar voice said as Naruto appeared behind Temari. He had a gun to her back as well and the two of them were led down a side alley in the space of approximately five seconds.

Once in the alley way, Shikamaru was thrown forward into the wall and his captor began to search him for weapons. As his hands grasped the grip of his pistol, Shikamaru dropped low, twisted, and punched upwards.

His fist slammed square in the middle of Agent Sasuke Uchiha's nose and a geyser of blood erupted forward as the elite operative slammed into the wall behind him. Shikamaru had barely managed to snatch his gun from its holster and bring it to bear on his friend before he heard Naruto's gun chamber a round loudly to his left.

"Shika, stop...please." Naruto said simply, but brokenly, as he aimed his pistol at Temari's head, her eyes wide in stunned shock.

He froze at the sight and it seemed as if everything that had been waging war within him had leapt out into the physical realm. His homeland and his duty to his country was now literally in conflict with the woman he loved and where he fealt—for once—happy with life.

"S-Shika...what the hell is going on?" Temari demanded as she tried to take in everything that was happening.

"Agent Nara, you'll be leaving with us either under your own power or ours." Sasuke said coldly as he raised his pistol at Shikamaru. The brunette swore softly to himself as he debated his options and realized bitterly that none of them were good.

He could either give in and be taken back to Konoha by force—where he would more than likely face some form of trial or investigation—or he could turn traitor like they thought and run with Temari.

It was too much.

"Shika we're not here to hurt her or arrest you, we just came to bring you back!" Naruto snapped heatedly upon seeing his friend fighting with himself.

"Someone explain what the fuck is going on!" Temari screamed as she tried to struggle free of Naruto's grip. Despite his lithe frame, the ANBU had a grip like freshly wrought iron. "Who the hell are these people Shikamaru!" She demanded as the orange haired man held her tight to him with his pistol firmly pressed into her hair.

Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, "I thought I had until the end of the week?" He questioned as he kept his gun trained on Sasuke. The black haired agent looked ready to pounce and Naruto and Shikamaru could both tell that the situation was about to turn into a shoot out.

Shikamaru, however, knew that the two ANBU agents were outgunnned.

"We had to move, I'm sorry Shika." Naruto said simply as he shook Temari lightly for emphasis. "I need you to drop you're gun Agent Nara. Now." The tone was cold and he knew Naruto was doing everything he could to make it sound that way.

His friend was just as conflicted as he was it seemed.

Shikamaru heard the crunch of boots on stone from up above their heads and made his move. He ran straight at Naruto and—his gut proving to be correct—Sasuke refrained from firing out of fear of hitting the orange haired agent. Naruto was likewise unable to fire due to Temari dropping her entire weight on the man holding her, ceasing any attempt at raising his gun.

Shikamaru's fist collided with his friend's face as hard as he could, sending the ANBU to the floor. Temari flew out of his clutches and into Shikamaru's arms, Naruto's gun held tight in her fists as she glared at Sasuke. The other ANBU raised his gun to fire, only to stop and swear under his breath upon realizing he had a trio of men aiming automatic rifles at him from the rooftops.

Sasuke Uchiha dropped his pistol and raised his hands just in time for one of Gaara's thugs to knock him out cold from behind.

Shikamaru had never fealt worse as he watched his friends be restrained and dragged away.

"So. Agent Nara Shikamaru of Konoha's elite ANBU special operations division." Kankuro spat as he stared at Shikamaru with even more hate—if that were possible—than he normally did.

The brunette was handcuffed to a chair in Gaara's office, Temari was sitting across the room from him with her head in her hands, and beside Kankuro—having just entered the office himself—was Gaara No Sabaku.

"What, you didn't have that figured out yet dipshit? Your brother certainly did." Shikamaru taunted as he stared at Gaara. The youngest of the Sabaku siblings was staring at Shikamaru; it wasn't in anger, which he had expected; it wasn't in betrayal, which wasn't like Gaara anyways as he didn't trust anyone; it was in curiosity.

Kankuro opened his mouth to say something, but Gaara shut it with a wordless hand movement as he stood before Shikamaru.

"Why?" Gaara stated calmly as he grabbed Shikamaru by the chin and brought him face to face with the criminal mastermind. "Why did you do that?"

Shikamaru locked eyes with the redhead and thought on the answer to that himself. He had struck a comrade in arms and allowed two of his close friends to be captured by a group of their enemies. He had blown his cover and had been completely aware of that as he had saved Temari from having her head blown off.

Why had he done that? For what?

Deep down he knew why. He had known the second Naruto had cocked his pistol at Temari's head. He had known as soon as he had charged his friend.

"I love her." Shikamaru said simply as he allowed his gaze to shift to the blonde haired female who had lifted her head up from across the room to lock eyes with him now. "I love her more than I love my country."

Gaara "hn'd" as he unlocked Shikamaru's handcuffs, "This is the second time I have released you Shikamaru Nara, former agent of Konoha's ANBU division," he said as he drew and then handed him a sleek pistol. "There will not be a third time." And with that, Gaara turned and headed towards the door.

Kankuro looked back and forth with utter confusion and outrage; Temari stared after her brother in shock and at her lover in stunned hope; Shikamaru merely grunted and followed after his boss. The other two Sabaku siblings were quick to follow him, they knew better than to voice their thoughts outside of the office walls.

The trio walked through the compound, passing a number of stunned guards—some were shocked at Shikamaru being free and others were just surprised to see Gaara himself walking by—before they came to the cell blocks. Shaik was waiting there and he glared at Shikamaru before nodding in hesitant approval after he composed himself.

"Good job saving Temari...leaf shit." Was all he said before he opened the door and went inside with Kankuro following after him. Shikamaru crushed the feelings gnawing at his stomach and with Temari at his side he followed Gaara inside.

The room was small and was dominated by a pair of blindfolded men tied to chairs. They were already beaten up and bleeding, but Shikamaru still recognized them as Naruto and Sasuke. Shaik had grabbed a baton and was wailing on Naruto while Kankuro watched over it all. After a bit, they switched off.

Shikamaru had to resist the urge to throw up.

After nearly an hour of just physical blows, Gaara raised a hand and the two men backed off the captives. A pair of thugs removed the blindfolds, revealing the blood-streaked eyes of Sasuke and Naruto to the world. The redhead allowed them a second to adjust to the dim lighting in the room and to fully accept the image of Shikamaru standing to Gaara's right before he spoke.

"I want to know why you attacked my men." Gaara said calmly and simply as he sat down while a chair was brought forward for him. The redhead folded his hands in his lap and waited patiently as the two ANBU stared at him in hatred.

"The blonde looked like she'd be a good fuck," Naruto said with a pointed look at Shikamaru.

"Didn't really care about following orders once we saw her," Sasuke said as he shared a furious smirk with Naruto.

"Shikamaru." Gaara said simply and waited.

He hated himself, but Shikamaru stepped forward and pistol whipped his two friends with his pistol as hard as he could. The both had mirrored looks of betrayal and shock as he stepped back to stand beside Gaara.

"Who sent you here," Gaara asked, his eyes cold and his voice steel.

Naruto stuck his tongue out; Sasuke flipped him off.

Gaara grunted and stood up, his chair was immediately whisked away into the shadows, and he made his way to the door. Shikamaru and Temari followed him as Shaik grinned and brought his baton forward.

"Gaara..." Shikamaru said softly as the office door shut with a click and the criminal mastermind went to take a seat behind his desk.

"Yes, Shikamaru." Gaara replied as he began to shift through paperwork while Temari moved to the couch against the near wall.

Shikamaru cleared his throat and prepared himself for whatever Gaara would throw back at him for this. "What are you planning to do with them?" He asked.

"Them?" Gaara questioned as he raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean your friends from Konoha?"

"The ANBU agents from Konoha," Shikamaru said carefully.

Gaara eyed him critically for a second before returning to his paperwork, "I plan to execute the ANBU agents from Konoha."

Shikamaru gulped as he stared at the man seated before him. He had feared it would be something like that.

"What...what do I have to do to convince you to send them home alive?"

Even Temari looked at him in surprise at that statement. No one challenged Gaara No Sabaku, much less someone who had been his prisoner twice.

"Them?" Gaara challenged as he finally sat up and looked at Shikamaru directly. "Be clear with me, Shikamaru Nara."

He took a breath.

"What do I have to do to convince you to send my friends home alive."

Gaara stared at him, weighing something in his mind as he judged him with his eyes quietly. He eyed Temari briefly, but clearly and obviously, before returning to Shikamaru. He leaned forward and and it was clear to Shikamaru that whatever was to be asked of him would not be something so light as a drug shipment.

"I want your loyalty. Complete and utterly. No more lies." Gaara said simply.